Good and honest review David! The first one on the YT channels. Not the standard review that the DF3 is the best putter ever etc. I am going to a fitter, more out of curiosity to see if the DF3 can beat my current gamer - SC Golo6! Appreciated sir!
I an a fairly solid putter, had this 2 rounds and its made me even more confident. Long putts ended up pin high if they missed, short putts haven't missed. Love it.
Excellent video, David. How to use the LAB is just as important (and not well covered in my opinion) as why the science it incorporates is so effective. Thanks for doing this.
Over the summer I was remotely custom fit with LAB for my DF3. The remote fitting was super easy, i sent LAB a video of my putting stroke with my previous gamer a Odyssey Jailbird 380 (limited edition) and they emailed me a couple of days later saying i need a 72 deg lie angle. I went with the following options: counterbalanced, heavier head, 36 inches, NN Head marking, 17 in. Superstroke LAB grip. black ACCRA shaft. Being 5 ‘ 6 “ tall I play it choked down about 2 inches. Putter is lights out. The key is to get the correct lie angle, spending big money so I needed to make sure it was fit for my lie angle. The head is so balanced it feels great knowing I don’t have to manipulate the head the head to keep it square at impact. The only thing is to be concerned about is speed and line.
I’m about 3 months in with my new DF3. I was fitted by a LAB pro here in the UK and waited 9 weeks for delivery. It was well worth the wait and the cost. As a 3 h/cap, I considered myself a ‘poor’ putter before the DF3. I now consider myself a ‘good’ putter. I too loosened my grip (tough after 50 years of strangling the thing) & just concentrate on rocking my shoulders. My 4-6ft makes have increased dramatically and so have my 20ft+ make % to the extent that I don’t think it’s just luck. The ball goes where I aim it so more long putts find the hole or are ‘near misses’. I am willing to bet more top pros will be putting this in their bags next season
Now that I have seen several putters that are being released in 2025, I can tell you that L.A.B. and other smaller brands that were on this early are not going to have the zero torque space all to themselves. Lots of "toe up" and "zero torque" putters are on the way. I think adoption will continue at the elite level, but there are always going to be players who like and benefit from using blades and traditional mallets. - DD
I switched to the DF3 after quite a bit of testing and the technology works, putting from distance is the only challenge I've encountered, inside 10 feet it is deadly
Just stick with it. I had the same thing at first but after maybe 10-15 rounds I got really good from distance. Way better than before. The key is dead hands & you'll probably come up short a lot at first but stick with the technique and you'll be way better than before. I was never a bad putter before, but my LAB is the best golf purchase I've ever made in terms of score improvement.
So you relax line up your putter face to the line on the ball. The ball you have previously lined up to the line you have chosen. Then stroke the ball with a natural movement and let the putter get you back to the ball square - right ?
Ive been watching more of your videos. Ive commented previously on the DF# and the ALLAN. (wasn't a gif gan). saw some stills of the a LAB prototype. Smaller footprint than the DF3. Question of the day: When a bought the DF3 i upgraded to the black ACCRA shaft. The fitter told me to do it but not entirely sure why. Any thoughts to shaft upgrades in putters? Thanks.
The fitter likely wanted you in a stiffer shaft because the DF3 is heavy. On longer putts, a flexible putter shaft is oscillate and bend more than you’d want, so a stiff graphite shaft tends to work better. - DD
When I was testing them at Golf Galaxy they had a 34' with the stock shaft and a longer putter with the ACCRA shaft. After hitting a few I would only consider the ACCRA shaft. You get a much better sense of feel with it.
Did the research and compared to other putters. It works as advertised. I make better putts. Less putts be round, fewer three putts, missed putts are closer so easy two putts.
My problem with the term “lie angle balanced” implies that the lie angle stays in line to the path, not the face angle. Otherwise they would have called it a Face Angle Balanced putter. Or are they just saying, whatever your lie angle is (69,68,70, 71, etc) we will make sure we balance it for you, and whatever is making the face angle stay in line with the path is the “zero torque” tech of the putter?
I tested one at a Golf Galaxy. I don't know what angle it was set at but when I held it the way I normally hold a putter the toe was up off of the ground. The angle was too high for me. I had to manipulate it to get the putter to sit level. One of the objectives of LAB's fitting is to prevent that from happening. I'm guessing the tester was around 69 or 70 and I need something closer to a 66. I was unsuccessful at sinking many putts with it but it felt very good, and I suspect that if I was fitted properly, I would be happy with one. It was just too risky of an investment for me to make as I wasn't successful with the store stock unit.
Actually the point is that you can use an arc style swing or a straight back straight through stroke and either way the LAB will want to square square to your chosen path. The beauty is that you don't need a particular stroke to make it work. Just got my custom DF3 and love it!
I believe your video is misleading for the audience. LAB putters mainly reduce the influence of the hands on the head itself. The choice between a straight stroke or an arced stroke depends on personal preference, but clearly, a straight up-and-down stroke is more recommended. When the club is still, the forward-facing head is simply a result of balancing this technology, but it is not the technology itself. For example, Edel and PXG Allen putters focus more on forward-facing technology, so their clubs still have some imbalance.
I'm sorry if you feel the video is misleading, but I think you may be misunderstanding what I was trying to explain. Basically, whether your putting stroke has a significant arc, a slight arc or almost no arc, this putter's balance should not encourage it to rotate one way or the other while you swing. If you add excessive hand movements to your stroke or manipulate the head, yes, the face can be tipped open or closed. However, while most traditional putters are balanced to naturally rotate or encourage rotation of the face, the L.A.B DF8 are not. I hope this clarifies what I was trying to say in the video. - DD
Good and honest review David! The first one on the YT channels. Not the standard review that the DF3 is the best putter ever etc. I am going to a fitter, more out of curiosity to see if the DF3 can beat my current gamer - SC Golo6! Appreciated sir!
Thanks. Let me know what you think. - DD
I an a fairly solid putter, had this 2 rounds and its made me even more confident. Long putts ended up pin high if they missed, short putts haven't missed. Love it.
After you’ve played 10 rounds of golf with the putter, let me know how you doing with it and your thoughts. - DD
Thanks! I've been working on loosening my grip on my DF3 and your suggestion confirms that it's something worth pursuing.
I have served. I will be of service. - DD
Excellent video, David. How to use the LAB is just as important (and not well covered in my opinion) as why the science it incorporates is so effective. Thanks for doing this.
Thanks. It’s not always about the putter, but what you do with it. - DD
Over the summer I was remotely custom fit with LAB for my DF3. The remote fitting was super easy, i sent LAB a video of my putting stroke with my previous gamer a Odyssey Jailbird 380 (limited edition) and they emailed me a couple of days later saying i need a 72 deg lie angle. I went with the following options: counterbalanced, heavier head, 36 inches, NN Head marking, 17 in. Superstroke LAB grip. black ACCRA shaft. Being 5 ‘ 6 “ tall I play it choked down about 2 inches. Putter is lights out. The key is to get the correct lie angle, spending big money so I needed to make sure it was fit for my lie angle. The head is so balanced it feels great knowing I don’t have to manipulate the head the head to keep it square at impact. The only thing is to be concerned about is speed and line.
That’s a great story! It sounds like you did your homework and got yourself a perfectly dialed in putter. - DD
@ thanks ! Yes I did. Only thing is I’ve been contemplating whether or not to sell that limited edition Jailbird 380. For now I’m holding on to it.
I’m about 3 months in with my new DF3. I was fitted by a LAB pro here in the UK and waited 9 weeks for delivery. It was well worth the wait and the cost. As a 3 h/cap, I considered myself a ‘poor’ putter before the DF3. I now consider myself a ‘good’ putter. I too loosened my grip (tough after 50 years of strangling the thing) & just concentrate on rocking my shoulders. My 4-6ft makes have increased dramatically and so have my 20ft+ make % to the extent that I don’t think it’s just luck. The ball goes where I aim it so more long putts find the hole or are ‘near misses’. I am willing to bet more top pros will be putting this in their bags next season
Now that I have seen several putters that are being released in 2025, I can tell you that L.A.B. and other smaller brands that were on this early are not going to have the zero torque space all to themselves. Lots of "toe up" and "zero torque" putters are on the way. I think adoption will continue at the elite level, but there are always going to be players who like and benefit from using blades and traditional mallets. - DD
I switched to the DF3 after quite a bit of testing and the technology works, putting from distance is the only challenge I've encountered, inside 10 feet it is deadly
I agree that long putts can take time, but on short and mid-range putts the DF3 really shines. - DD
I love the feel off the face and have no problem with lag putts It’s a great putter
Just stick with it. I had the same thing at first but after maybe 10-15 rounds I got really good from distance. Way better than before.
The key is dead hands & you'll probably come up short a lot at first but stick with the technique and you'll be way better than before. I was never a bad putter before, but my LAB is the best golf purchase I've ever made in terms of score improvement.
great review. thanx.
So you relax line up your putter face to the line on the ball.
The ball you have previously lined up to the line you have chosen.
Then stroke the ball with a natural movement and let the putter get you back to the ball square - right ?
Ive been watching more of your videos. Ive commented previously on the DF# and the ALLAN. (wasn't a gif gan). saw some stills of the a LAB prototype. Smaller footprint than the DF3. Question of the day: When a bought the DF3 i upgraded to the black ACCRA shaft. The fitter told me to do it but not entirely sure why. Any thoughts to shaft upgrades in putters? Thanks.
You can find a detailed description of the optional shafts on the LAB website. The Accra is a good investment, perfectionists choose the TPT
@@high_alpine_golfer thanks
The fitter likely wanted you in a stiffer shaft because the DF3 is heavy. On longer putts, a flexible putter shaft is oscillate and bend more than you’d want, so a stiff graphite shaft tends to work better. - DD
When I was testing them at Golf Galaxy they had a 34' with the stock shaft and a longer putter with the ACCRA shaft. After hitting a few I would only consider the ACCRA shaft. You get a much better sense of feel with it.
@@DavidDusek Thanks David, appreciate the info.
Nice review, thank you
Thanks for watching! - DD
Do you have any thoughts or videos on the other LAB putters ie Mezz 1 blade which I use blades all my life
I have limited experience with the Mezz 1 Blade. Is that a video you’d want to see? - DD
@ Yes please blades are more comfortable for me. Thanks
Did the research and compared to other putters. It works as advertised. I make better putts. Less putts be round, fewer three putts, missed putts are closer so easy two putts.
Congratulations on finding upon her that performs better for you. - DD
My problem with the term “lie angle balanced” implies that the lie angle stays in line to the path, not the face angle. Otherwise they would have called it a Face Angle Balanced putter. Or are they just saying, whatever your lie angle is (69,68,70, 71, etc) we will make sure we balance it for you, and whatever is making the face angle stay in line with the path is the “zero torque” tech of the putter?
I tested one at a Golf Galaxy. I don't know what angle it was set at but when I held it the way I normally hold a putter the toe was up off of the ground. The angle was too high for me. I had to manipulate it to get the putter to sit level. One of the objectives of LAB's fitting is to prevent that from happening. I'm guessing the tester was around 69 or 70 and I need something closer to a 66. I was unsuccessful at sinking many putts with it but it felt very good, and I suspect that if I was fitted properly, I would be happy with one. It was just too risky of an investment for me to make as I wasn't successful with the store stock unit.
I tried one and I couldn't find it remotely closer than my current one... Not sure I can untrain myself to make it work...
You can! Once you get over the changes, they’re actually really easy to embrace, and the tech will quite literally lead you to a better stroke.
I’m waiting for the oz.1 proto
My golf spy's testing shows these putters are the best, but it's a lot of money to have it only save 1/2 a stroke over 5 rounds of golf.
This is so wrong. Ask Sam at LAB. Face doesn’t open and close like you’re doing. To time that is really hard.
Actually the point is that you can use an arc style swing or a straight back straight through stroke and either way the LAB will want to square square to your chosen path. The beauty is that you don't need a particular stroke to make it work. Just got my custom DF3 and love it!
I believe your video is misleading for the audience. LAB putters mainly reduce the influence of the hands on the head itself. The choice between a straight stroke or an arced stroke depends on personal preference, but clearly, a straight up-and-down stroke is more recommended. When the club is still, the forward-facing head is simply a result of balancing this technology, but it is not the technology itself. For example, Edel and PXG Allen putters focus more on forward-facing technology, so their clubs still have some imbalance.
I'm sorry if you feel the video is misleading, but I think you may be misunderstanding what I was trying to explain. Basically, whether your putting stroke has a significant arc, a slight arc or almost no arc, this putter's balance should not encourage it to rotate one way or the other while you swing. If you add excessive hand movements to your stroke or manipulate the head, yes, the face can be tipped open or closed. However, while most traditional putters are balanced to naturally rotate or encourage rotation of the face, the L.A.B DF8 are not. I hope this clarifies what I was trying to say in the video. - DD